diff --git a/devSetup.gulpfile.js b/devSetup.gulpfile.js
index 4e66514d..9a9d7be2 100644
--- a/devSetup.gulpfile.js
+++ b/devSetup.gulpfile.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const cleanup = () => {
 
 const npmInstall = path => done => {
     console.log(`Running 'npm install' for ${path}…`);
-    spawnise.spawn((/^win/).test(process.platform) ? 'npm.cmd' : 'npm', ['install', '--install-links'], {
+    spawnise.spawn((/^win/).test(process.platform) ? 'npm.cmd' : 'npm', ['install'], {
         cwd: path || './',
         shell: true
     })
diff --git a/gulpfile.mjs b/gulpfile.mjs
index d9e94db3..d991c262 100644
--- a/gulpfile.mjs
+++ b/gulpfile.mjs
@@ -541,6 +541,17 @@ export const bakePackages = async () => {
     log.info('\'bakePackages\': Built to this location:', path.resolve(path.join('./build', `ctjs - v${pack.version}`)));
 };
 
+// Reinstalls npm packages without symbolic links, as creating them on Windows
+// require administrative privileges and thus fail installation through itch app / unzipping.
+export const fixWindowsSymlinks = async () => {
+    await $({
+        cwd: `./build/ctjs - v${pack.version}/win32`
+    })`npm install --install-links --os=win32 --cpu=ia32`;
+    await $({
+        cwd: `./build/ctjs - v${pack.version}/win64`
+    })`npm install --install-links --os=win32 --cpu=x64`;
+};
+
 export const dumpPfx = () => {
     if (!process.env.SIGN_PFX) {
         log.warn('❔ \'dumpPfx\': Cannot find PFX certificate in environment variables. Provide it as a local file at ./CoMiGoGames.pfx or set the environment variable SIGN_PFX.');
@@ -643,6 +654,7 @@ export const packages = gulp.series([
         patronsCache
     ]),
     bakePackages,
+    fixWindowsSymlinks,
     patchWindowsExecutables
 ]);